With thanks to my predecessor, Kay Whitfield for her organising, I facilitated another meeting of several members of the general staff from different parts of the University with senators Jane Wilson and Robert Wensley for an hour or so. Jane is a doctor-turned-company director (including on the bord of IMB.com) and Bob is a barrister (and former president of the UQ student union). Andrew Bonnell, elected Senator of the academic staff, and Denis Brosnan, elected senator of the body of graduates, also attended.
We talked about what the Senate is and how it operates, noting that the Federal Government is interested in shrinking the size of Senate further, possibly cutting out the elected representatives. We also talked about ideas for marking the upcoming UQ centenary. The general staff present told the external senators about what they do and some of the problems they face. All parties found the session interesting and worthwhile.
If you'd like to attend one of these meetings, contact me.
Prof Stephen Walker presented some facts and figures, and challenges facing EPSA.
The strategic plan for 2007-2011 was approved. However, at least one external senator noted that it was largely about implementing directions already determined and that Senate should spend time discussing big-picture issues abput the future of the University. A couple of meetings ago, an hour was spent on this topic but it was inadequate. As Andrew Bonnell pointed out, it's a shame the discussion hasn't been concluded before the next Vice-Chancellor is appointed, as it could have informed the selection committee. I suggested that a dedicated session be held, which the head table seemed to agree to do.
There was debate over a proposal to make all academic staff serve a probation of 5 years. Currently Levels A/B do 3 years instead of 5. Management had proposed it because some academics were not ready to seek confirmation of appointment after 3 years (needing more time to build a teaching and research profile). When it was realised that the probationary period can be shortened or waived and that staff can apply for confirmation anytime during the period, concerns eased.
Senate backed a proposal from the V-C to respond to a Government review of the Protocols by essentially saying to back off on any further interference in how University governing bodies are run.
A report of the review of ITS, the Directors' response and the response of UQ senior executives was noted. No significant restructuring of ITS or other areas is indicated. The focus is on improving service delivery where indicated, centralisation of more of UQ's IT (but still collaborating with IT staff in the provinces), making pricing structures more transparent, and improving ITS's accommodation.
The 2007 budget performance to May was noted along with the first assumptions for the 2008 budget. To his credit, Andrew Bonnell noted that some Faculty budgets were starting to go into the red a bit, at a time when the funding for some of the Institutes will be a drain for the next few years, along with the pared-down, but still ambitious, capital program. $3m has been set aside for the UQ branding project - this will hopefully be money well-spent as UQ needs to get its advertising act together in a big way, as it has been creamed for years by local rivals QUT and GU, who are taking students and public support away from us.
The rest of the meeting was made up of regular reports, confirmation of senior appointments, recommendations for honorary degrees, and the like.
I asked what was happening with progressing the University's Centenary celebrations. Yours truly is the only senator that has so far responded to an invitation to nominate for a working party of Senate members, but we were assured a committee would be constituted in the coming weeks.
